Journal
HYDROBIOLOGIA
Volume 481, Issue 1-3, Pages 181-185Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1023/A:1021232832390
Keywords
pearl oyster; seston; size distribution; phytoplankton
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Seasonal changes of seston were monitored in the pearl cultivation area of Uchiumi Bay, Ehime Prefecture, Japan where the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii is cultivated. The concentrations of chlorophyll a and particulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were measured and the community structure of the phytoplankton investigated between June 1997 and February 1999. The seston was divided into pico- (< 2 mu m), nano- (2-20 mu m) and large (> 20 mum) size fractions. The dominant size fraction during the study period,< 2 mu m (38.1-51.4%), is consumed by oyster larvae but is too small for the adult pearl oyster. During the summers of 1997 and 1998 Nitzschia spp. became dominant but is indigestible for the oyster which was thus subjected to food limitation. We suggest monitoring the composition of seston and phytoplankton >2 mum for evaluation of the food environment of the pearl oyster.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available